Dave Porter in the South Seas; or, The Strange Cruise of the Stormy Petrel Read online

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  EDWARD STRATEMEYER'S BOOKS

  Old Glory Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.50 per volume._

  UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA. A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA. FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS. UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE. UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.

  Soldiers of Fortune Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.50 per volume._

  ON TO PEKIN. UNDER THE MIKADO'S FLAG. AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR. WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.

  Colonial Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.50 per volume._

  WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST. MARCHING ON NIAGARA. AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL. ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC. THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS. TRAIL AND TRADING POST.

  Mexican War Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00._

  FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS. WITH TAYLOR ON THE RIO GRANDE. UNDER SCOTT IN MEXICO.

  Pan-American Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00._

  LOST ON THE ORINOCO. THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS. YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS. YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON. TREASURE SEEKERS OF THE ANDES. CHASED ACROSS THE PAMPAS.

  Dave Porter Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.50 per volume._

  DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL. DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS. DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL. DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH. DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES. DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH. DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS. DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND. DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS. DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS. DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP. DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE. DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH. DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE. DAVE PORTER'S WAR HONORS.

  Lakeport Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.50 per volume._

  THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT. THE BASEBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT. THE BOAT CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT. THE FOOTBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT. THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS OF LAKEPORT. THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT.

  American Boys' Biographical Series

  _Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.50 per volume._

  AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY. AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

  DEFENDING HIS FLAG. _Price $1.50._

  The canoe was sent closer and finally beached.--_Page258._]

  Dave Porter Series

  DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS

  OR

  THE STRANGE CRUISE OF THE STORMY PETREL

  BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER

  Author of "Under Togo for Japan," "Under the Mikado's Flag," "At the Fall of Port Arthur," "Old Glory Series," "Pan-American Series," "Colonial Series," "American Boys' Biographical Series," etc.

  _ILLUSTRATED BY I. B. HAZELTON_

  BOSTON LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.

  Published, August, 1906

  COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY LOTHROP, LEE AND SHEPARD CO.

  _All rights reserved_

  DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS

  Norwood Press BERWICK AND SMITH CO. NORWOOD, MASS. U. S. A.

  PREFACE

  "Dave Porter in the South Seas" is a complete story in itself, but formsthe second volume in a line issued under the general title of "DavePorter Series."

  In the first volume of this series, called "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," Iintroduced a typical American boy, and gave something of his haps andmishaps at an American boarding school of to-day. At this school Davemade a number of warm friends, and also a few enemies, and was the meansof bringing one weak and misguided youth to a realization of his betterself. Dave was poor and had to fight his way to the front, and this wasnot accomplished until he had shown those around him what a trulystraightforward and manly fellow he was.

  The one great cloud over Dave's life was the question of his parentage.He had been raised by those who knew practically nothing of his past,and when he thought that he saw a chance to learn something abouthimself, he embraced that opportunity eagerly, even though itnecessitated a long trip to the South Seas and a search among strangeislands and still stranger natives. Dave makes the trip in a vesselbelonging to the father of one of his school chums, and is accompaniedby several of his friends. Not a few perils are encountered, and whatthe boys do under such circumstances I leave for the pages that followto tell.

  In penning this tale, I have had a twofold object in view: first, togive my young readers a view of a long ocean trip and let them learnsomething of the numerous islands which dot the South Seas, and, in thesecond place, to aid in teaching that old truth--that what is worthhaving is worth working for.

  Again I thank the many thousands of boys and girls, and older persons,too, who have shown their appreciation of my efforts to amuse andinstruct them. I can only add, as I have done before, that I sincerelytrust that this volume fulfills their every reasonable expectation.

  EDWARD STRATEMEYER.

  April 10, 1906.